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LOT 0722
Roman Bronze Ring with Seated Fortuna Gemstone
2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D.
3/4 in. (2.03 grams, 21.6 mm overall, 15.7 mm internal diameter (approximate size British J 1/2, USA 5, Europe 9.32, Japan 9)).
D-section hoop and ellipsoid bezel with inset gemstone, intaglio motif of a seated goddess holding a sword blade-uppermost. [No Reserve]
Provenancewith Archaeologia, Switzerland, before 1983.
Ex private North American collection.
London private collection, 2016.
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AUCTIONS:
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Roman Green Glass Bead Necklace String
1st-4th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £59
Restrung designer necklace string of tubular, oblate and other types with lozengiform pendant centrepiece. 10.6 grams, 41.3 cm
London, UK, collection, 2000s. -
Monumental Roman Marble Head of a Greek Philosopher, Probably Diogenes
1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46,800
Carved in the round bust of a cynical, mature philosopher with short tousled hair and thick beard, exaggerated protruding eyes and gaunt facial features, the mouth modelled slightly open as if the subject is in pain; mounted on a custom-made stand. 47.6 kg total, 60 cm including stand
Private collection, Paris, 1980s. European private collection. Accompanied by a copy of French passport no.237041. Accompanied by an academic report by Professor Neritan Ceka. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12610-234690. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The portrait head was initially meant to be assembled on a statue. Chisel marks at the neck level indicate a relatively late separation of the head from the body, which must have been twice its natural size. The working of the back of the head suggests that the sculpture was exposed only to the front. The search for realistic traits brings this head close to the Hellenistic portraits of the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, representing socially disadvantaged people of different ages and situations, such as fishermen and peasants, in the so-called genre sculptures. This presentation would be in contrast to the supernatural proportions of the portrait, which should have represented an elderly, publicly known person, poet, or philosopher, exhibited in his city of origin. In this respect, it would be more suited to the representation of a Cynical philosopher, in the model of Diogenes of Villa Albani. The almond-shaped eyes without drilled pupils, engraved eyes, and the absence of a deep drilling technique on hair date the portrait between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD. -
Roman Mosaic Stone Tesserae Group
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
A mixed group of two hundred and fifty single tesserae of various colours and sizes, mostly cuboid. 361 grams total, 8-12 mm
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
Roman mosaics were made from small cubes of natural stone and terracotta possibly cut from tile or brick. Each of these small cubes was called a tessera (plural tesserae) from the Latin word for dice.
